MIAMI BEACH, Fla., March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Their stories are different, but yet so similar. A tiny accidental taste of food or medicine to which they are allergic, or an insect sting in a susceptible person, may lead to an episode of anaphylaxis. That episode may be mild or life-threatening, ultimately leading to death.
Hundreds of Americans die each year from anaphylaxis -- a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) is bringing this health concern to the attention of the nation through education and new research presented on National Anaphylaxis Day, Sunday, March 5, at the AAAAI 2006 Annual Meeting in Miami Beach.
"The keys to decreasing deaths caused by anaphylaxis are: assess risk in people who have experienced previous severe allergic reactions, begin long-term risk-reduction strategies for these people, and provide anaphylaxis education," said F. Estelle R. Simons, MD, President of the AAAAI.
People who suffer from allergies to foods, medications, insect stings, or natural rubber latex need to be aware of the potential for an anaphylactic reaction.
The AAAAI emphasizes the following important information about anaphylaxis:
* Anyone, especially people allergic to foods such as peanuts, tree nuts, seafood, fin fish, milk or egg, or to insect stings, natural rubber latex or medications, can suffer from an anaphylactic reaction. * An anaphylactic reaction can happen within minutes of an allergic person coming into contact with his or her specific trigger. * Several symptoms occur at the same time and include: itching, hives, flushing, difficulty breathing, vomiting diarrhea, dizziness, confusion, or shock. * When a person develops an anaphylactic reaction, epinephrine should be injected, and 911 or emergency medical services should be called. It is important to act quickly, because it is difficult to predict whether the anaphylaxis episode will be mild, life-threatening, or fatal. * Follow-up is needed because anaphylaxis can occur repeatedly. Risk-assessment needs to be performed, and the trigger needs to be confirmed. Risk-reduction (a long-term preventive strategy) needs to be implemented.
While anaphylaxis poses a serious health risk, new research presented on Sunday, March 5 offers insights into how often anaphylaxis occurs, what behaviors put allergy sufferers more at risk of suffering an anaphylactic episode, and a new test to confirm the diagnosis of an anaphylaxis episode.
Research Highlights:
Anaphylaxis estimates underestimated in emergency departments
While allergy-related visits account for approximately 1 percent of all emergency room visits, the number of visits recorded as being due to anaphylaxis is underestimated, according to new research presented at the press conference.
Carlos A. Camargo, Jr., MD, DRPH, and Sunday Clark, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, and colleagues used the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey to obtain a sample of emergency department visits between 1993 and 2003. The study showed there were a total of 11.4 million allergy-related visits over the 10-year span, with the number remaining relatively stable each year. The study concluded that anaphylaxis coding was rare (1 percent) and that, based on other emergency department studies, anaphylaxis is grossly underestimated. In addition, the study showed that between 1993 and 2003, life-saving epinephrine was under-utilized.
Education needed to make sure allergy sufferers have self-injectable epinephrine available and know how to use it properly
Responses to allergic reactions are symptom-driven, with 34 percent of people not receiving medical care, according to Elinor Simons, MD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, and colleagues.
At a FAAN conference, the group conducted a survey about families' most severely food-allergic individual. In the majority of families, the most severely food-allergic individual was a child age 4 years or younger (37 percent), or age 4-18 years (59 percent). Management of allergic reactions was based on symptoms, but even when the food-allergic individuals had severe symptoms during a reaction, only 6 percent received epinephrine before going to a hospital, and one-third did not even seek medical care for the episode. The leading reasons for not seeking medical attention were that the reaction did not seem to be severe enough (45 percent) or that the reaction was not recognized as such (33 percent).
According to this research, for those who did receive professional care, observation periods were too brief (half were less than 2 hours), epinephrine was under-prescribed, and food avoidance instructions were suboptimal for many people.
The study concluded that responses to allergic reactions were symptom-driven, that most individuals did not receive pre-hospital epinephrine, and that education of physicians and families must ensure the food-allergic individuals have self-injectable epinephrine available and use it appropriately.
Study identifies new serum marker for anaphylaxis episodes
New research presented at the press conference shows an increased level of carboxypeptidase, an enzyme produced by mast cells during anaphylaxis, a severe acute allergic reaction. Carboxypeptidase measured in blood serum or plasma collected within 8 hours of the onset of anaphylaxis may be an important tool to identify anaphylaxis episodes.
Andrew F. Walls, PhD, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom, and colleagues found that carboxypeptidase levels were significantly higher in people who had an anaphylactic reaction compared to people without a reaction. In 83 percent of the anaphylaxis cases with an elevated level of tryptase (the usual blood test marker for anaphylaxis), carboxypeptidase levels were also elevated. Most importantly, out of 110 cases of suspected anaphylaxis that did not have an elevated level of tryptase in the serum, there was an elevated level of carboxypeptidase in 77 (70 percent). The study concluded mast cell carboxypeptidase may be an important serum marker for detecting anaphylaxis.
About AAAAI:
The AAAAI is the largest professional medical specialty organization in the United States representing allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with special interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease. Allergy/immunology specialists are physicians trained and certified in pediatrics, internal medicine, or both, who have elected an additional two years of training to become specialized in the treatment of anaphylaxis, asthma, and other allergic and immunologic diseases. Established more than half a century ago, the AAAAI has more than 6,300 members in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries. The AAAAI serves as an advocate for the public by providing educational information through its Web site http://www.aaaai.org, and its Physician Referral and Information Line at (800) 822-2762.
AAAAICONTACT: Karen Janka, kjanka@aaaai.org, or Natalie Lemke,nlemke@aaaai.org, both of AAAAI, +1-414-272-6071
Web site: http://www.aaaai.org/